VMware vSphere Update Manager Client - Is there a version 6.5?

I just upgraded my vCenter Server (Windows install) from 6.0 U3 to 6.5 U1e. I also upgrade vSphere Update Manager to 6.5 on the same server. On my workstation, I was looking through my installed vmware programs and saw the VMware vSphere Update Manager Client (version 6.0 U3). I Googled and scoured vmware's site but haven't been able to find anything mentioning that program, except the docs for version 5.1.

Oh that was a mistake. vCenter Server for Windows is going away 100% the next major release (I think @StorageNinja can probably confirm) You should have used the included update software to go to the VCSA.

@coliver How so? I did an in place upgrade on an existing VM and I am aware that they are moving solely to the appliance on the next major release. When they do, so will I. I just couldn't take the crippled version 6 client integration plugin. I got it working with Firefox ESR up until last week and then an update to FF seems to have screwed it. That was that.

Edit: I am still running ESXi 6.0 U3 on all my hosts. 1 of them is an older R710 and is not on the ESXi 6.5 hardware compatibility list.

@coliver How so? I did an in place upgrade on an existing VM and I am aware that they are moving solely to the appliance on the next major release. When they do, so will I. I just couldn't take the crippled version 6 client integration plugin. I got it working with Firefox ESR up until last week and then an update to FF seems to have screwed it. That was that.

Edit: I am still running ESXi 6.0 U3 on all my hosts. 1 of them is an older R710 and is not on the ESXi 6.5 hardware compatibility list.

I upgraded from vSphere 6 to 6.5 a while ago and when I did that, I stopped using vCenter on Windows and set up the appliance instead. I was nervous at first but now it's so much better. Update Manager is built in to the vCenter 6.5 appliance, so you don't have to dink around with separate client installs.

Oh and to go from vCenter 6 in Windows to vCenter 6.5 Appliance, there is no conversion. It's a fresh install. You basically shutdown your Windows server and then set up the vCenter appliance from the .ova you download from your vmware account.

Additionally, when you do plan to upgrade, make sure you check the hardware compatibility matrix to make sure your server hardware is compatible with 6.5 and only do one host at a time. I didn't have any issues except with a single port on one of my quad port nics kept flapping for some reason. Turns out I had to tell it to use an older driver version, then all was fine.

@wrx7m Always hated CIP myself also. The standalone update utility is gone. You can use VUM through the web client. Also, try out the HTML5 client while you are at it. It's nice in 6.5

Thanks. I didn't really use the client, but was wondering if it has been updated and maybe would be beneficial, but you answered that.

In order to get the Enhanced Authentication Plugin to work, I had to do the workaround where you go to https://vmware-plugin:8094 once and then it allows it to work properly.

In terms of HTML5 client, I would prefer to use it, but they said it still has limited functionality. And I don't know if I can use fling, as I am not upgrading my hosts to 6.5x at this time, due to an older host not being on the HCL.

@wrx7m Always hated CIP myself also. The standalone update utility is gone. You can use VUM through the web client. Also, try out the HTML5 client while you are at it. It's nice in 6.5

Thanks. I didn't really use the client, but was wondering if it has been updated and maybe would be beneficial, but you answered that.

In order to get the Enhanced Authentication Plugin to work, I had to do the workaround where you go to https://vmware-plugin:8094 once and then it allows it to work properly.

In terms of HTML5 client, I would prefer to use it, but they said it still has limited functionality. And I don't know if I can use fling, as I am not upgrading my hosts to 6.5x at this time, due to an older host not being on the HCL.

The vSphere Web Client (Flash) works just fine.. You have a choice for both at the vCenter login:

I'm using the HTML5 version for everything except updates at this point... And I'm working on getting that automated with powercli. My goal is to use Powercli for everything I can't do with the HTML5 client.